Texas Rangers Blog

Rangers win Game 3: Inning-by-inning analysis

Colby Lewis needed 20 pitches to get through the first inning of Game 3, and he did so without allowing a run. Freddy Sanchez had a one-out single and Buster Posey walked with two outs, but Pat Burrell struck out to end the inning.

Due up for the Rangers: Elvis Andrus, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton.

Vladimir Guerrero hit one deep, but left fielder Pat Burrell had enough time to get under it near the left-field corner for the third out of the first inning. The Rangers had a hit by Michael Young, a ball that Burrell butchered. Jonathan Sanchez, though, didn’t let it affect him.

Due up for the Giants: Cody Ross, Juan Uribe, Pablo Sandoval.

2nd inning

Cody Ross, the NLCS MVP, walked to start the second inning, but Colby Lewis got Juan Uribe to pop out and induced an 4-6-3 double play from Pablo Sandoval to end the inning. Lewis needed 14 pitches to get through the inning and is at 34 heading to the third.

Due up for the Rangers: Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, Jeff Francoeur.

First baseman Mitch Moreland, who has earned starts against left-handed pitchers despite being a left-handed hitter with a right-handed option available, launched a three-run homer with two outs in the second inning to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead in Game 3 of the World Series.

Nelson Cruz started the inning with a laser off the center-field wall for a double and went to third on an Ian Kinsler grounder. Jeff Francoeur, though, swung at the first pitch from Jonathan Sanchez and rolled out to third. Cruz couldn’t advance.

After a walk to Bengie Molina, Moreland battled Sanchez for nine pitches. Moreland fouled off four 2-2 pitches before hitting his first career postseason homer.

Due up for the Giants: Edgar Renteria, Andres Torres (0 for 1), Freddy Sanchez (1 for 1).

3rd inning

Staked to a 3-0 lead a half-inning earlier, Colby Lewis posted a quick 1-2-3 third inning that got the Rangers back at the plate and Jonathan Sanchez back on the mound after a rocky second. Lewis retired Edgar Renteria, Andres Torres and Freddy Sanchez on 10 pitches. Lewis has thrown 44 pitches through three innings.

Due up for the Rangers: Young (1 for 1), Hamilton (0 for 1), Guerrero (0 for 1).

The third inning got off to a promising start for the Rangers, as Michael Young singled, but Jonathan Sanchez retired the heart of the Rangers’ order and Young got only as far as second base. Mitch Moreland’s three-run homer is the Rangers’ only hit in their past 14 chances with runners in scoring position.

Due up for the Giants: Huff (0 for 1), Posey (0 for 0, BB), Burrell (0 for 1).

4th inning

Colby Lewis threw 20 pitches in the first inning but has thrown only 33 over the next three innings. He just retired the Giants on nine pitches in the fourth, an inning that included a one-out single by Buster Posey. Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez is back for the fourth, trailing 3-0 and having thrown 45 pitches.

Due up for the Rangers: Kinsler (0 for 1), Francoeur (0 for 1), Molina (0 for 0, BB, R).

Jonathan Sanchez pitched around a two-out walk to Bengie Molina to keep the Rangers off the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Sanchez walked Molina in the second, and Mitch Moreland followed with a three-run homer. In the fourth, though, Moreland popped up the first pitch and was out as third baseman Jose Uribe made the catch.

It’s Rangers 3, Giants 0 entering the fifth inning.

Due up for the Giants: Uribe (0 for 1), Sandoval (0 for 1), Renteria (0 for 1).

5th inning

Right-hander Colby Lewis delivered another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, retiring Juan Uribe, Pablo Sandoval and Edgar Renteria on 10 pitches. Lewis has thrown 63 through five while allowing only two hits and issuing only one walk in the first inning.

Due up for the Rangers: Andrus (0 for 1), Young (2 for 2), Hamilton (0 for 2).

he Rangers have taken a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning after Josh Hamilton launched a 426-foot solo homer to right field with two outs in the fifth. The homer came right after Michael Young bounced into a double play that erased a leadoff single by Elvis Andrus.

Vladimir Guerrero followed the Hamilton homer with a four-pitch walk, and that ended Jonathan Sanchez’s game. Guillermo Mota entered to face Nelson Cruz, and Guerrero was thrown out trying to steal second base to end the inning.

Due up for the Giants: Torres (0 for 2), Sanchez (1 for 2), Huff (0 for 2).

6th inning

Former Brewer star Aubrey Huff collected a two-out double off Colby Lewis, but the right-hander baffled rookie catcher Buster Posey for a called third strike to end the inning. The Huff double was the third hit allowed in Game 3 by Lewis, who has allowed six hits in his past 14 innings. Lewis has thrown 76 pitches in six innings, and he delivered a shutdown inning for the second time tonight. It’s Rangers 4, Giants 0.

Due up for the Rangers: Cruz (1 for 2, 2B), Kinsler (0 for 2), Francoeur (0 for 2).

Ian Kinsler singled with one out and Jeff Francoeur followed with a walk, but the Rangers’ scoring threat came to an end as Bengie Molina bounced into a 6-4-3 double play. The Rangers have hit into a twin killing in each of the past two innings, but they continue to lead 4-0 entering the seventh inning. Colby Lewis is back at 76 pitches.

Due up for the Giants: Burrell (0 for 2, 2Ks), Ross (0 for 1, BB), Uribe (0 for 2).

7th inning

Game 3 has reached the seventh inning stretch with the Rangers out front 4-1. Cody Ross provided the Giants’ first run of the game with a solo homer that carried out in left-center field. The Rangers’ bullpen went to work, with Darren Oliver warming, but Lewis got the final two hitters of the inning. He’s at 93 pitches.

Due up for the Rangers: Moreland (1 for 2, HR, 3 RBIs), Andrus (1 for 3), Young (2 for 3, GIDP).

An all-time Rangers Ballpark record crowd of 52,419 will watch Colby Lewis start the eighth inning. He’s at 93 ptiches and both Darrens — Oliver and O’Day — are warming in the bullpen. The Rangers lead 4-1, and the Giants will send their Nos. 9, 1 and 2 hitters to the plate.

8th inning

An all-time Rangers Ballpark record crowd of 52,419 will watch Colby Lewis start the eighth inning. He’s at 93 ptiches and both Darrens — Oliver and O’Day — are warming in the bullpen. The Rangers lead 4-1, and the Giants will send their Nos. 9, 1 and 2 hitters to the plate.

Due up for the Giants: Renteria (0 for 2), Torres (0 for 3), Sanchez (1 for 3).

The Rangers will take at least a 4-2 lead into the ninth inning. Colby Lewis allowed another solo homer in the eighth and then hit Aubrey Huff on an 0-2 curveball two batters later to end his night. He allowed five hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Darren O’Day entered to face Buster Posey, who represented the tying run, and got the Rookie of the Year candidate to ground out on a full-count pitch. Neftali Feliz is warming and will pitch the ninth inning. The Rangers’ Rookie of the Year candidate hasn’t pitched since Game 6 of the ALCS.

Due up for the Rangers: Hamilton (1 for 3, HR, RBI), Guerrero (0 for 2, BB, CS), Cruz (1 for 3, 2B, R).

Neftali Feliz is jogging in from the bullpen to close out Game 3 of the World Series and get the Rangers in the best-of-seven series. The Rangers had a base runner with two outs in the eighth as Nelson Cruz reached on an error, but Ian Kinsler struck out on three pitches to end the inning.

The last time Feliz was on the mound, he retired the Yankees in order in Game 6 of the ALCS. He struck out Alex Rodriguez to send the Rangers to their first World Series.

Due up for the Giants: Burrell (0 for 3, 3 Ks), Ross (1 for 2, HR, RBI, BB), Uribe (0 for 3).

9th inning

Neftali Feliz nailed down the first postseason save of his career, and Colby Lewis won his third straight postseason start by allowing two runs in 7 2/3 innings as the Rangers won Game 3 of the World Series 4-2.

Mitch Moreland hit a three-run homer and Josh Hamilton had a solo shot for the Rangers, who now trail the best-of-seven-series 2-1. Tommy Hunter will start Game 4 for the Rangers. Madison Bumgarner will pitch for the Giants, who got solo homers from Cody Ross and Andres Torres against Lewis.